Sensible, Prudent

1
Sensible, Prudent ShrewdBuilding Blocks for a
Theology of Efficiency

• Michael E. Cafferky
• Professor of Business Management
• Southern Adventist University

2
Road map

• Introduction
• The study question
• Biblical expectations regarding productivity
• Instrumental values virtues relevant to
  productivity
• Agricultural yield a biblical example

3
Parts of the paper not addressed here

• Introduction
• Assumptions
• Operational efficiency
• Constraints on efficiency
• Imitatio dei
• Responsibility toward unproductive persons

4
introduction

• Efficiency a central element in the definition of
  management. (Robbins Coulter, 2009 Daft, 2008)
• A controversial legacy of the Scientific
  Management movement (Freeman, 1996 Bedeian
  Wren, 2001)
• Synonym Productivity

5
introduction

• Not everyone is enamored
• Does not ensure social justice (Stapleford, 2002)
• Can lead to idolatry
• The gospel of efficiency has replaced the
  gospel of Christ (Nelson, 2005)
• we have come to worship abundance. (Rempel,
  2003, p. 51)
• A method of control and exploitation (Alexander,
  2008)
• Contrary to the interests of some stakeholders
  (Clark, 2002 Koslowski, 2002)

6
Study question

• What do we find in the Bible regarding
  productivity?
• To date no one has offered a thorough examination
  of the concept from a biblical theology
  perspective.

7
Study question

• The perspective this paper will take - biblical
  themes and concepts
• Biblical expectations regarding productivity
• Gods character and attributes
• Creation
• Covenant
• Shalom
• Blessing
• Fruitfulness

8
Study question

• The perspective this paper will take - biblical
  themes and concepts
• Biblical instrumental values and virtues relevant
  to productivity
• Truth
• Wisdom
• Prudence
• Usefulness
• Stewardship

9
Study question

• The perspective this paper will take - biblical
  themes and concepts
• Agricultural Yield a biblical example

10
Biblical expectationscharacter of god

• God is the owner of all wealth-building assets
  (Psalm 5010)
• God is the source and giver of Wisdom
• The Bible sometimes describes Gods work in terms
  of useful occupations and technology.
• Gardner (Genesis 28)
• Farmer (Matthew 937-38)
• Potter (Jeremiah 186-7)
• Shepherd (Genesis 4815 Psalm 1003)
• Vineyard / orchard owner (John 151-2)
• Craftsman builder (1 Chronicles 1710)
• Precious metal worker (Malachi 32-3)

11
Biblical expectationscharacter of god

• God owns our business technology
• A just balance and scales belong to the LORD
  All the weights of the bag are His concern.
  (Proverbs 1611)
• Some of Gods actions are described using
  business terms
• the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
  shepherd the church of God which He purchased
  with His own blood (Acts 2028)
• For you have been bought with a price therefore
  glorify God in your body. (1Cor 620)

12
Biblical expectationscreation

• Creation account describes Gods interest in the
  material dimension of life.
• God did not have to create us with a need for
  material things or a need for the services of
  other peoplebut in his wisdom he chose to do
  so. (Grudem, 2003, p. 27)
• In all our work, either directly or indirectly,
  we work with that which has come from the hands
  of the Creator.

13
Biblical expectationscreation

• Humans are utterly dependent upon God for their
  existence and sustenance.
• Humans also dependent on the earth.
• To what degree or in what ways do humans have
  responsibility to manage their dependence on the
  earth?

14
Biblical expectationscreation

• God is an efficient worker first preparing the
  planet for life and community and then creating
  community that can be sustained by the earth.
  (Genesis 1 Fretheim, 2005)
• At creation of the earth, the very next act of
  the Creator was to make the planet begin
  flourishing (Genesis 11-10). Yet, he asked
  humans to participate with him to bring forth the
  potentiality that the good earth offered. (Novak,
  1982, p. 39)

15
Biblical expectationscreation

• God made us with a desire to be productive, to
  make or do something useful for other people.
  Therefore human desires to increase the
  production of goods and services are not in
  themselves greedy or materialistic or evil.
  Rather, such desires to be more productive
  represent God-given desires to accomplish and
  achieve and solve problems. (Grudem, 2003, p.
  28)

16
Biblical expectationscreation

• Because of sin it is difficult to engage in
  efficient work. (Genesis 317-19 529
  Ecclesiastes 217, 23 Isaiah 4028-31 461)
• Cursed is the ground because of you In toil
  you shall eat of it All the days of your life
  (Gen 317)
• Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one
  shall give us rest from our work and from the
  toil of our hands arising from the ground which
  the LORD has cursed." (Gen 529)
• So I hated life, for the work which had been
  done under the sun was grievous to me because
  everything is futility and striving after wind.
  (Eccl 217)

17
Biblical expectationscreation

• The Commission to bring nature under human rule
  (Genesis 128) is coupled with the Commission to
  serve the earth. (Genesis 215-16 323 Geisler,
  1989, p. 305 Hiebert, 2001, p. 14-15)
• fill the earth, and subdue it and rule over
  the fish of the sea and over the birds of the
  sky, and over every living thing that moves on
  the earth. (Genesis 128)
• God took the man and put him into the garden of
  Eden to cultivate serve it and keep it.
  (Gen 215)

18
Biblical expectationscreation

• God not only created but also remained present
  for sustaining life. Sustaining life assumes
  that those involved achieve at least a minimal
  level of productivity.
• Is God a minimalist encouraging just barely
  enough productivity to meet the needs of today?

19
Biblical expectationscovenant

• The significance of covenant in this context is
  that the principles of covenantal living
  demonstrated by God are to be imitated.
  (LaRondelle, 2005 Pava, 2001 McCann, 1997
  Herman, 1997 Allen, 1984)
• The promise of land, one of the chief
  wealth-building assets and the most important
  resource for sustaining life, became closely
  associated with the fulfillment of Gods
  Covenant. (Genesis 127 157, 18 178 3512)

20
Biblical expectationscovenant

• Apparently faithfulness to God coupled with
  practical wisdom is how covenantal faithfulness
  as a whole can be advanced so that covenant
  promises are realized. (See for example Genesis
  136-17 367 Ecclesiastes 511)

21
Biblical expectationscovenant

• Standing in tension with growth-oriented covenant
  promises is an anti-growth structural provision
  in covenantal society The concept of sabbatical
  and Jubilee. (Gordon, 1989, p. 17)

22
Biblical expectationsshalom

• Shalom embraces spiritual, social, international
  political, physical, emotional, and economic
  dimensions. (1 Chronicles 229 2 Chronicles
  155 Job 523-24 Psalm 858-13 119165
  1226-9 Proverbs 167 Jeremiah 336)
• Wealth is the fruit of faithfulness to covenantal
  law, wise human effort and Gods gift (Joshua
  18 Psalm 11-3) however, it seems reasonable
  that such prosperity is realized only if workers
  are efficient.

23
Biblical expectationsshalom

• The biblical discussions of shalom are broad in
  scope and do not focus on operational details of
  economic life such as the best ways to achieve
  efficiency.
• While shalom is the covenantal gift of God to
  those who are faithful to him, such a gift is
  mediated in part through the wise efforts of
  workers who approach their tasks as faithful
  stewards.

24
Biblical expectationsblessing

• The first place we see blessing being given is in
  Genesis where God speaks the word and the whole
  earth is filled with blessings of abundant food
  and resources for all creatures. (Genesis 1
  Psalm 1283-4 Breuggemann, 2002, p. 20
  Dumbrell, 1984, p. 68)

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Biblical expectationsblessing

• The idea giving a blessing is that one person
  transmits power for life to another party.
  (Breuggemann, 2002, p. 18-19)
• Blessing is essentially a prayer that God will
  bless the other person in every way envisioned by
  shalom.

26
Biblical expectationsblessing

• The most characteristic dimension of the power
  for life that is transmitted in blessing concerns
  prosperity, wealth, health, and fertility
  Blessing is thus an intentional, deliberate act
  that proposes to enhance the receivers life in
  its material dimension. (Breuggemann, 2002, p.
  18-19 See also Adeney, 1988a, p. 306 McBride,
  2006)

27
Values Virtues Truth

• The managers work with respect to truth is not
  limited merely to pursuit of the truthfulness of
  information.
• The biblical concept of truth is a concept of
  action. (Berkovitz, 1969)
• When the king, emulating Gods character, builds
  his throne on truth, he builds it on actions of
  faithfulness to covenant relations.

28
Values Virtues Truth

• Advancing truth means advancing the cause of
  faithfulness to commitments both to individuals
  and to the organization. It means ensuring that
  actions have lasting validity. It also means
  being a reliable messenger of information about
  reality.

29
Values Virtues Truth

• Taking corrective actions based on the truth of a
  situation ensures that these actions of
  faithfulness will advance the overall purpose of
  the organization in its relationship to society.

30
Values Virtues wisdom

• Wisdom cannot be understood apart from its
  relationship to covenant (Grant, 2003 Hubbard,
  1966)
• Being intensely prudent but also ever mindful of
  ones relationship with God. (Breuggemann, 2002,
  p. 234)
• Being grounded in the fear of God and in the
  business of living life (Dyrness, 1977 von Rad,
  1962 Müller, 1980)

31
Values Virtues wisdom

• Wisdom encompasses actions designed for improved
  efficient production.
• masterful understanding, skill, expertise.
  (Waltke, 2007)
• the seat of wisdom is in the heart (Proverbs
  210 614, 18 1013 1225 1410, 30-33
  1514-15 2317 2412)

32
Values Virtues wisdom

• Wisdom operates in the larger context of Gods
  will. It is more a matter of character than
  merely intellect or practical knowledge.

33
Values Virtues prudence

• Prudence is not identical with craftiness.
  (Kaiser, 1966, p. 266)
• Prudence sometimes is discussed as the antithesis
  of deception since it involves the search for
  knowledge and truth. (Proverbs 148, 15, 18)
• Prudence means careful discretion when applying
  knowledge to everyday life.

34
Values Virtues usefulness

• The Scripture assumes that humans will attempt to
  be as productive as possible.
• Usefulness, the biblical concept that is most
  directly related to the concept of efficiency, is
  prized in Scripture. (Matthew 513-16 2 Timothy
  221 411 Philemon 111)
• You are the salt of the earth but if the salt
  has become tasteless, how will it be made salty
  again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to
  be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
  (Matt 513)

35
Values Virtues usefulness

• Disciples are expected to be useful for God
• Humans are expected to be useful and when they
  are not they are destructive. (Proverbs 189
  Titus 314)
• Specific biblical instruction regarding care for
  wealth-building asset of sheep appears in
  Proverbs 2723-27.
• Solomon explains the tradeoff that comes from not
  using a sharp axe. Either sharpen the axe or
  become stronger. (Ecclesiastes 1010, 15)

36
Values Virtues usefulness

• A passage in Isaiah suggests the importance of
  establishing the proper sequence of tasks in
  order to have the most desirable outcome. (Isaiah
  2823-29)

37
Values Virtues usefulness

• Static efficiency is in view when
• Moses gives instruction regarding community
  responsibilities to care for private property
  (Exodus 2015)
• Solomon gives advice to the slothful hunter who
  lets his prey get away (Proverbs 1227)
• Solomon gives counsel to consume only what we
  need (Proverbs 2120 2516) Eat only what you
  need, Lest you have it in excess and vomit it.
  (Prov 2516)
• The prodigal son wastes his inheritance (Luke
  1514)
• Jesus asked the disciples to gather the leftovers
  after feeding the people (John 612)

38
Values Virtues usefulness

• Dynamic efficiency is in view when
• the psalmist prays for full granaries and tens of
  thousands of sheep to be born among the flocks on
  the hills. (Psalm 14413-15) Let our garners be
  full, furnishing every kind of produce, And our
  flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in
  our fields 14 Let our cattle bear, Without
  mishap and without loss, (Psa 14413)
• Entering into work with ones strength and
  diligence is preferred over weakness and
  slothfulness (Ecclesiastes 910) Whatever your
  hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your
  might (Eccl 910)
• followers of Christ are counseled to make the
  most of every opportunity. (Colossians 45)

39
Values Virtues usefulness

• Even the Bible has a certain utility (2 Timothy
  316)
• All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable
  for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
  training in righteousness (2 Timothy 316)
• When the New Testament discusses godliness and
  good deeds, it does so in terms of utility (1
  Timothy 48 Titus 38)
• for bodily discipline is only of little profit,
  but godliness is profitable for all things, since
  it holds promise for the present life and also
  for the life to come. (1Tim 48)
• This is a trustworthy statement and concerning
  these things I want you to speak confidently, so
  that those who have believed God may be careful
  to engage in good deeds. These things are good
  and profitable for men. (Titus 38)

40
Values Virtues usefulness

• Hundreds of practical technologies are referred
  to in the Bible.
• Setting a bird snare in the presence of a bird
  was considered foolish since such a snare would
  be useless. (Proverbs 117)
• Indeed, it is useless to spread the net In the
  eyes of any bird (Prov 117)
• Hiram, a bronze worker from Tyre, repeatedly used
  a single mold to improve efficiency as well as
  reduce variation in the art work. (1 Kings 737)

41
Values Virtues usefulness

• People were sometimes described in terms of their
  practical usefulness to others.
• Paul describes a servant in terms of usefulness.
  (Philemon 111)
• Paul describes Mark as being useful. (2 Timothy
  411) Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for
  he is useful to me for service.
• Paul describes sinful humans as useless to God.
  (Romans 312) All have turned aside, together
  they have become useless
• In Jesus parable he employs language of contempt
  for the useless slave. (Matthew 2530)

42
Values Virtues usefulness

• In tension with the idea of diligence to increase
  usefulness we also find in scripture the concept
  of contentment.
• The principle of maximizing the usefulness of
  assets was used in the Bible to illustrate
  important spiritual truths (Deuteronomy 322
  Psalm 13 9212-14 Isaiah 5510-11 Matthew
  310 718-19 Luke 39 136-9 1434-35 John
  151-2 Hebrews 67-8 Jude 112). This suggests
  that maximizing utility is good.

43
Values Virtues usefulness

• At the same time as encouraging utility, the
  Bible condemns achieving utility by immoral
  actions.

44
Values Virtues stewardship

• Stewardship requires efficiency and
  productivity. It is commendable to do a better
  job of managing the created order. That
  glorifies God, reveals the wonder of God in
  creation, and services other people more
  effectively. (Chewning, Eby Roels, 1990, p.
  173)

45
Values Virtues stewardship

• Productivity is more than an abstract word used
  by demanding executives and scientists. It goes
  beyond pragmatic growth programs and material
  welfare. Productivity is a spiritual ethical
  obligation. We are called to be productive by
  God. God commands that we bear fruit, that our
  work be worthwhile. (Sproul, 2008, p. 47)

46
Values Virtues stewardship

• The most notable example of the successful
  household steward is that of Joseph (Genesis
  37-49)
• His moral steadfastness coupled with his ability
  to increase wealth made him attractive to the
  Egyptians.

47
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• Fruitfulness, Gods original plan for the earth
  and for society, is contrasted in the Bible with
  barrenness and waste which comes as a result of
  sin.
• At Creation it is Gods powerful word that
  overcomes the chaos of a desolate world without
  form and void so that it can be a productive
  place for his creatures.

48
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• From the Creation account forward all Scripture
  writers show positive regard for fruitfulness and
  a disdain for barrenness.
• Fruitfulness in material things is inseparable
  from fruitfulness in spirituality. (However,
  this is not the same as a prosperity gospel.)
• When the covenant relationship with God is
  broken, people treat each other unjustly and the
  fruitfulness of creation is harmed. But when the
  covenantal relationship is restored, the
  fruitfulness of the environment is also redeemed.
  (Miller, 1979, p. 15-16)

49
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• In contrast to the concept of fruitfulness,
  waste, unproductive resources and desolation are
  spoken of in strong disapproving tones in the
  Bible.
• All its land is brimstone and salt, a burning
  waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass
  grows in it (Deut 2923)
• Then the men of the city said to Elisha,
  "Behold now, the situation of this city is
  pleasant, as my lord sees but the water is bad,
  and the land is unfruitful." (2Kings 219)

50
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• The prophet Amos foretells a time when Gods
  people would enjoy extraordinary agricultural
  production (Amos 913 Volf, 1991, p. 165)
• Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD,
  "When the plowman will overtake the reaper And
  the treader of grapes him who sows seed When the
  mountains will drip sweet wine (Amos 913)

51
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• Israel was instructed to prune fruit-bearing
  plants as a means to prepare for the sabbatical
  year. Pruning results in higher production
  (Leviticus 253-4 John 151-2)
• I am the true vine, and My Father is the
  vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not
  bear fruit, He takes away and every branch that
  bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more
  fruit. (John 151-2)
• When searching out the land of Canaan the
  Israelite spies were instructed to evaluate the
  productivity of the land (Numbers 1319-20. Cf.
  Joshua 512)

52
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• Careful breeding of sheep will result in a
  wealthier flock (Genesis 30-31 3043 Proverbs
  2723-24)

53
Values Virtues fruitfulness

• When a resource became unproductive it was
  expected that the owner of the resource would
  correct the problem or simply get rid of the
  unproductive resource replacing it with something
  else that produces. (Ecclesiastes 32. See also
  Matthew 310 Luke 39 136-7)
• A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is
  planted. (Eccl 32)
• every tree therefore that does not bear good
  fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
  (Matt 310)
• Behold, for three years I have come looking
  for fruit on this fig tree without finding any.
  Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?
  (Luke 136)

54
Agricultural yield

• Grain farmers were aware of the desirability of
  and the factors that increase agricultural yield.
  (Genesis 2612 Matthew 138, 23 Mark 48, 20 2
  Corinthians 96)

55
Agricultural yield

• Successful agricultural yield results from the
  blending of human effort, divine power and the
  gifts of God on the earth. The farmer must
• prepare the field, plant, nurture, prune
  (Leviticus 25.3 Isaiah 51-7 18.5 John 15.2)
• protect with walls, hedges, watch towers and
  watchmen (Psalm 8012-13 Song of Solomon 2.15
  Isaiah 18 5.2-5 Jeremiah 417 Matthew 2133
  Mark 121)
• use animals to help with the work (Proverbs 144)
  
• harvest

56
Agricultural yield

• At least four measures of productivity are
  mentioned explicitly or implicitly in the Bible.
• ratio of seeds sown to seeds harvested (Matthew
  138 Luke 88)
• others fell on the good soil, and yielded a
  crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some
  thirty. (Matt 138)
• the amount of acreage required to produce a
  certain amount of harvested food (Isaiah 510)
• For ten acres of vineyard will yield only one
  bath of wine, And a homer of seed will yield but
  an ephah of grain (Isa 510 )

57
Agricultural yield

• Efficiency measures
• labor-to-yield ratio, i.e., how many paid workers
  the sowing, caring and harvest require to gather
  in a certain yield (Matthew 937-38 201-16
  Luke 102)
• The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are
  few (Mat 937-38)
• comparing the value before diligent work with the
  value after workthe idea of gain or profit
  (Proverbs 1527 Ecclesiastes 39 Jeremiah 613
  1213)
• What profit is there to the worker from that in
  which he toils? (EccL 39)

58
Summary conclusions

• Striving for productivity appears to be in full
  agreement with the Bible. It can be seen as a
  measure of the degree to which an organization
  and its community is flourishing.
• As humans are co-workers with God, productivity
  may be an instrumental means in the human sphere,
  to achieve the blessings of Shalom
• Striving for efficiency in a manner that breaches
  other covenant principles should be avoided.

59
Summary conclusions

• Can we say that productivity is good in its own
  right? Perhaps oddly, Yes and No.
• Walking along side the earth assisting it to be
  more productive is worship to God if our work is
  carried forward in a way that respects the earth
  and treats others with respect.

60
Summary conclusions

• However, efficiency is good only as it serves the
  larger social purposes in serving the greater
  good of society.
• Pursuing efficiency as if it is a terminal value
  alone reduces economic activity. This
  contradicts other fundamental ideas about why
  businesses exist, namely, to serve the common
  good of society.

61
Summary conclusions

• Relevant building blocks of a theology of
  productivity
• Character of God
• Creation
• Covenant
• Shalom
• Blessing
• Fruitfulness
• Truth
• Wisdom
• Prudence
• Usefulness
• Stewardship

62
Summary conclusions

• The dominant industry in Bible times
  (agriculture) illustrates the value of
  productivity